Maxillary expander and protraction device
A medical device and method of expanding the maxilla of a patient via application of intra-orally generated forces and/or applying externally generated protraction forces to the maxilla of the patient is provided. The medical device can embody multiple configurations device that include skeletal anchorage device alone or in combination with a fixed aligner or an adjustable aligner.
1 . A maxillary expander, comprising:
(i) first bodies, each having at least 2 first threaded apertures, and sized to be coupled intraorally to a hard palate of a patient on either side of the median palatine suture,
(ii) bone screws, one for each first threaded aperture, having
(a) a threaded upper end configured to engage threads of the first threaded apertures, and
(b) a threaded lower end configured to screw into the hard palate of the patient,
(iii) first fasteners, and
(iv) an adjustable aligner configured to couple to the first bodies, and including an adjustment mechanism configured to cause the first bodies to move away from each other when the adjustable aligner is coupled to the first bodies,
wherein the adjustable aligner may be coupled and uncoupled from the first bodies while the bone screws are inserted in the first threaded apertures and screwed into the hard palate,
the first bodies further have second threaded apertures,
the adjustable aligner further has third apertures, and
the first fasteners are configured to be threadably screwed into the second threaded apertures, and received through the third apertures.
2 . The maxillary expander of claim 1 , further comprising a fixed aligner, having fourth apertures configured to receive the first fasteners.
3 . The maxillary expander of claim 1 , wherein;
each of the first bodies comprises 3 of the first threaded apertures.
4 . The maxillary expander of claim 2 , wherein the fixed aligner comprises 4 of the fourth apertures.
5 . The maxillary expander of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to rotate.
6 . The maxillary expander of claim 1 , wherein the first threaded apertures are counter sunk to receive the threaded upper end of the bone screws.
7 . The maxillary expander of claim 2 , further comprising a second fixed aligner,
wherein the second fixed aligner comprises alignment features configured to receive the first bodies.
8 . The maxillary expander of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a telescopic expansion screw.
9 . The maxillary expander of claim 1 , wherein each of the first bodies comprises a female aperture for receiving a free end of an appliance.
10 . The maxillary expander of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is an expansion screw having threads at only one end.
11 . A method of applying forces to a maxilla of a patient with a maxillary expander, the maxillary expander comprising
(i) first bodies, each having at least 2 first threaded apertures, and sized to be coupled intraorally to a hard palate of a patient on either side of the median palatine suture,
(ii) bone screws, one for each first threaded aperture, having
(a) a threaded upper end configured to engage threads of the first threaded apertures, and
(b) a threaded lower end configured to screw into the hard palate of the patient, and
(iii) an adjustable aligner configured to couple to the first bodies, and including an adjustment mechanism configured to cause the first bodies to move away from each other when the adjustable aligner is coupled to the first bodies,
wherein the adjustable aligner may be coupled and uncoupled from the first bodies while the bone screws are inserted in the first threaded apertures and screwed into the hard palate,
the method comprising:
coupling the maxillary expander to the maxilla of the patient; and
adjusting the adjustment mechanism to apply a force to the first bodies to cause movement of the first bodies relative to one another and to cause expansion of the maxilla,
wherein the coupling comprises coupling the first bodies to opposite sides of the palatine suture.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the adjusting causes bilateral expansion of the maxilla.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the adjusting causes unilateral expansion of the maxilla.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the force is not applied to the teeth of the patient.
15 . A method of applying forces to a maxilla of a patient with a maxillary expander, the maxillary expander comprising
(i) first bodies, each having at least 2 first threaded apertures, and sized to be coupled intraorally to a hard palate of a patient,
(ii) bone screws, one for each first threaded aperture, having
(a) a threaded upper end configured to engage threads of the first threaded apertures, and
(b) a threaded lower end configured to screw into the hard palate of the patient, and
(iii) an adjustable aligner configured to couple to the first bodies, and including an adjustment mechanism configured to cause the first bodies to move away from each other when the adjustable aligner is coupled to the first bodies
the method comprising:
coupling the maxillary expander to the maxilla of the patient; and
adjusting the adjustment mechanism to apply a force to the first bodies to cause movement of the first bodies relative to one another and to cause expansion of the maxilla,
wherein the coupling comprises coupling the first bodies to opposite sides of the palatine suture.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the force is not applied to the teeth of the patient.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein each of the first bodies have at least 3 of the first threaded apertures.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the maxillary expander further comprising first fasteners,
wherein the first bodies further have second threaded apertures,
the adjustable aligner further has third apertures, and
the first fasteners are configured to be threadably screwed into the second threaded apertures, and received through the third apertures.
19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a telescopic expansion screw.
20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is an expansion screw having threads at only one end.